Auscultation in Primary Care

Second Heart Sound - Fixed Splitting

This example shows fixed splitting of the second heart sound. The separation of the two components of the second heart sound remains unchanged through inspiration and expiration at sixty milliseconds in this example.

Fixed splitting of the second heart sound (along with murmurs) indicates the presence of an atrial septal defect, a congenital heart defect in which the intra-atrial septum is incomplete resulting in a hole between the left and right atria.

The murmurs have been eliminated in this lesson so that you can concentrate on the fixed splitting of the second heart sound.